Sports as a tool to steal from taxpayers

[kadennis66]

This has been my rant for years!. Why do I as a taxpayer pay for the facility and then get taxed again just to walk in the fucken door! This is Goddamn lunicy. Go ahead and buy a sports franchise, if you want a new stadium then YOU pay for the sonofabitch! Where the hell is the Tea Party on this issue? Never hear a peep about big buisness fucking over taxpayers from the teabaggers.

[madashelldude]

@kadennis66 that's because they are drones programmed by big business: people who never in their entire life learned any truth that didn't come from the boob tube or ClearChannel Comm Inc.

[3089280288]

Just like any business, if you open a franchise, then you should bear all the cost. If you ask for tax money for your facility, then you can't afford the team period. Buy the team, buy the facility.

[elsamuraiguapo]

Nationalize sports leagues.

[bvd1022]

he allowance of corporate tradition killing Hasnt George Steinbrenner and Fred Wilpon ever heard of the phrase Bad Karma? I dont know about you all but I say I still believe in tradition and I wont support them going forward.

We have too many problems in this country to allow this type of greed and corruption. The way to eliminate these people is to take the power away from the politicians that enable them Whats wrong with tradition?

[BizzyBumpyWilson]

they do wut iz right in their own eyez...MAY GOD JUDGE US WELL

[Dswelli23]

You're right that pro sports leagues are monopolies. It's important to distinguish between a competitive monopoly and a forced monopoly. If a business can produce and deliver a product better than the competition for less than the competition, that business will naturally achieve monopoly position in that market. This type of monopoly does no harm to consumers since they offer better value than the alternatives. The forced monopoly, however, peddles influence to get laws that restrict competion.

[szatmar666]

Yes, but the book's argument is exactly that US (tax)laws are such that big guys have unfair advantage ie. what u call a "forced monopoly". I recommend you read the book or pay more attention 2 what Johnston actually is saying for instance about how Bush used eminent domain and coercive big gov measures that relied on nepotism and behind the scenes corrupt politics to get taxpayers money for the Texas Rangers ballpark in Arlington!  He literally privatized profits while socializing expenses.

[sinistar99]

@Dswelli23 There are also natural monopolies, like water, gas roads etc where there's only one source and 1 delivery system.

[Dswelli23]

The arguments this man makes sound sophisticated but are largely flawed. There are no laws that prevent anyone with the means with stating a football league to compete with the NFL; in fact this has been tryed many times. These leagues have failed because the NFL has a superior product, not because the government stopped them. Secondly, in most instances where the public finances stadiums, the teams lease the property from the city; teams rarely play in them for free.

[szatmar666]

Dswelli23: "largely flawed"?! I mean he never said what you claim he said. Where in this video is he saying that there is such a law you talk about?! What he is saying is that major league sports are a monopoly. For instance oil drilling is a monopoly. Sure, it's possible to start an oil company if you are rich, but sooner or later the big guys will work with each other against you to buy you out. that's how monopolies work. there r laws against this but they r not enforced and not enough.

[sirgreatness]

Great point, and the big guys will lobby the little guy to death lol because they have the money.

[szatmar666]

don't support politicians who talk about sport stadiums while bridges are collapsing and education is being cut.

[UlsterLion]

Lies.All lies.

[louthebody]

Okay. Now that we all know this, what do we do about it? It's all about the money anyway and unless you have the cash to pay who you need to pay then nothing can be done. Look at what the poweres to be are doing with our medical, food, and drug industry. It's all about the money.

[Shmecklecka]

Answer, they will do nothing, because the PEOPLE JUST DON'T CARE.

They don't even get that it was the USA that overthrew the democratically elected government in Iran in the 50's or supported saddam. The people are stupid, brain-dead, bible-belted red-state rednecks, who only like to shoot things. They are happy being poor, stupid and voting for republocrats who let them legally kill things, especially brown people.

[louthebody]

I kind of get your piont. However when you lump all of us together by calling us stupid I find that insulting. not all Americans of the U.S. are stupid. I'm well aware of the Iranian situation back in the 50's and I very well remember the U.S. Government support of Saddam back in the very early 80's when Iran and Iraq were at war. Some of your points however are well taken and thank you for sharing.

[xAbsoluteJackx]

@Shmecklecka

I bet your a brown person.

[KremeDeMentia]

the truth hurts: most Americans are slaves to their iPods, Lush Dimbulb and NASCAR. They pretty much deserve the coming Depression. However, I agree we must have a demi-revolution to gain Democratic representation once again. First: disseminate the information in this great book!

[chumashfalcon]

Im buying this book!

[o0xst]

They are trying to screw us with a stadium swindle here in Oklahoma City..but we are fighting it...I hope Amy will do a bit on our efforts, lots of good stuff going on here in the bible belt....progressives here CANT and SHOULDNT be ignored forever.

[WadeBlazingame34]

Amazing. DC Johnston is great... KEEP IT UP!! ("Free Lunch" is a great book!!)

[TheStallion3]

Everyone should read that. So many questions are raised, and regardless of your political leanings, you will be astounded by the practice of corporate welfare.